Meaningless finale means auditions for next season

Published 4:00 am, Friday, January 1, 2010

Raiders quarterback Charlie Frye will put the finishing touches on his resume Sunday. Another Raiders quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, already is applying for his same job next season.

As far as season finales go, Sunday's game against the visiting Ravens is more a job fair than a meaningless game at the Coliseum. With Gradkowski out, Frye gets one more start to make his employment pitch before becoming a free agent.

"Anytime you've been released and you're looking for a job, you want to prove yourself," passing-game coordinator Ted Tollner said.

Frye still has some proving to do. In one start, he passed for 68 yards in Denver. The next week, he threw for 333 yards at Cleveland, but with three interceptions and no touchdowns.

For Frye's part, he isn't even thinking about it. Playing the Ravens' defense is hard enough without thinking about the ever after.

"Let's focus on us and let's make sure that we're doing the right things to make this play work," Frye said Thursday.

Photo: Matt Sullivan, Getty Images

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CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 27: Charlie Frye #3 of the Oakland Raiders looks for a receiver against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 27, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images) less

CLEVELAND - DECEMBER 27: Charlie Frye #3 of the Oakland Raiders looks for a receiver against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 27, 2009 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Matt ... more

Photo: Matt Sullivan, Getty Images

Meaningless finale means auditions for next season

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Gradkowski hopes his body of work gets him re-signed in Oakland, where he wants to play in 2010 after going 2-2 as a starter. He took over the job last month when Raiders coach Tom Cable benched JaMarcus Russell.

And, yes, Gradkowski said, it matters what you put on video when finally given a chance.

"It's encouraging because of the good stuff we put on film in those couple games that I played," said Gradkowski, who tore ligaments in both knees in the Dec. 13 game against the Redskins. "I want to be a Raider. I know we'll make it happen and things will work out the way they should."

So, who will the starting quarterback be next season? It depends on Raiders owner Al Davis. He might want to give Russell another chance, given his financial investment and recent calls for patience with the 2007 No. 1 overall pick.

If Davis makes a coaching change - which is always possible - the new staff might want to bring in other quarterbacks to compete with Russell. Thus, the importance of Frye putting together a strong audition Sunday for the rest of the league to see.

"What they showed is they do belong in the league," Tollner said.

Fine time: Raiders tight end Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 for "intentionally making physical contact with a game official" in Sunday's 23-9 loss to the Browns.

Stewart admits he "swiped" the umpire's hand off his chest as a natural reaction to being touched by the official.

Defensive end Richard Seymour was fined $10,000 for an unnecessary-roughness penalty, with the league saying the fine was for "striking an opponent late after the play was over."

Lastly, cornerback Stanford Routt was fined $5,000 for an intentional head-butt after the play. He, like Stewart, was ejected from the game.

Briefly: The Raiders did not sell out Sunday's season finale, so it will be blacked out on local television - the seventh time in eight games this season the Raiders have been blacked out. ... Cornerback Chris Johnson (hamstring) missed practice and will be replaced by Routt if he can't play Sunday, with safety Michael Huff becoming the nickel cornerback. ... Rookie receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (sprained foot) remained limited in his return to practice after missing four games.